HUMBUG VALLEY — Members of the Mountain Maidu said PG&E did not give them enough time to protect their cultural sites in Humbug Valley before the company started logging its land there.

Yet PG&E spokesman Paul Moreno said the company followed emergency protocol to remove the trees burned in the Chips Fire before the rainy season begins.

On Oct. 1, PG&E started logging trees that were identified as dead or dying from fire damage, Moreno said. They had notified Cal Fire several days in advance.

"Our goal is to take care of the forest," Moreno said.

The secretary and treasurer of the Maidu Summit Consortium, Lorena Gorbet, said she and other Maidu didn't receive notice until the next day and didn't meet with PG&E and an archeologist to identify cultural sites until Oct. 3.

"We're really questioning, is that ethical?" Gorbet said.

Of the 2,325 acres PG&E owns in the valley, 368 acres burned. Moreno said no culturally sensitive sites will be impacted. The area contains several bedrock mortars and village sites. Burned trees in Canyon Dam and Butt Valley will also be logged.

Gorbet said it looks like loggers are clear-cutting healthy trees.

Moreno said all of the trees being cut suffered enough fire damage that they will die, get or spread disease.

In a PG&E bankruptcy settlement, the company agreed to donate many plots of land, including Humbug Valley.

The Maidu consider the valley sacred and are trying to acquire the undeveloped land through the bankruptcy process.

Gorbet said PG&E is logging, she thinks, devaluing the land before they lose the title to it.

"Naturally, we're upset that they're cutting up the land that we're trying to get the title to," Gorbet said.

Moreno said the process of other groups acquiring the company's land takes years.

"Those dead and damaged trees need to come out much sooner than that," Moreno said. "After next year, they won't have the timber value either."

The company pledged to replant the logged areas with conifer seedlings from native trees in the spring of 2014, Moreno said.

Gorbet said she thinks the company decided to replant the land after the Maidu sent out a press release disputing the logging.

"It's the first we have heard of it," she said.

Moreno responded, "We're growing the trees to reforest the land."

The logging will result in about $500,000, more than half of which will pay for replanting and erosion control, Moreno said. The other money will go to the company.

"We're committed to continuing to work with the tribes and we're going to work harder to avoid any misunderstandings," Moreno said.

"We take their concern seriously and always are willing to work with them."

Gorbet said she's not sure PG&E respects the Maidu.

"Is that protecting the cultural resources?" Gorbet said. "We just think we can do a better job of it."